Horrockses Fashions: Off the Peg Style in the 40s and 50s

Horrockses Fashions Limited was the manufacturer of one of the most well-respected ready-to-wear labels of the 1940s and 1950s.

The company are best known for their full-skirted dresses which were sought after by women everywhere and were even worn by Queen Elizabeth II. Although they were produced in considerable quantities, the firm maintained an air of exclusivity for the brand, with an emphasis on good quality fabrics with custom-designed patterns and fashion styling with Parisian couture overtones.

The colourful prints will provide a visual feast for visitors to the exhibition, which focuses on the range of the firm’s production, from glamorous evening dresses, to vibrant summer frocks and sophisticated housecoats and beachwear. The exhibition follows the story of the Horrockses dress from initial fabric and fashion design, to production, promotion and consumption.

Curated by author and design historian Dr Christine Boydell, the exhibition will also be accompanied by a book published by V&A Publishing.